This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session from October 2018, opens in Adobe Connect. Engage students and deepen content area knowledge using Animoto to create instructional videos. Text, audio, and video provide additional context to content area instruction for your students. Use student-created videos as formative assessment. Brainstorm with others workshop participants on how you and your students can use Animoto in the classroom. Participants will: 1. Learn basic use of Animoto; 2. Explore three different ways to use Animoto in the classroom; and 3. Plan for the use of Animoto in the classroom. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

In the Classroom

The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.

Explore the concept of fear through this Halloween Collection based on PBS T.V. shows. The collection includes videos and lessons for students in PreK through high school. Each item included on this site provides links to standards, and many include lesson support materials. Use links to share directly to Google Classroom or social media accounts.

In the Classroom

Instead of viewing videos on this site as a class, enhance student understanding by using EdPuzzle, reviewed here, to create a complete lesson within the video. Students could then view videos in class as partners, or at a learning center on their own. In blended learning classes, students could watch the videos on their own at home if you post them on your website. EdPuzzle offers features for inserting questions into videos and provides quick feedback on student understanding. To wrap up your unit, substitue a paper and pen project by having younger students work together to create a class book using WriteReader, reviewed here, to share different types of scary situations and suggestions on how to address them. For older students, have them redefine their learning by using a multimedia tool like Book Creator, reviewed here, to analyze supernatural or historic events like the Salem Witch Trial included in this site.

This archived Twitter chat is from October 2018 and will open in TweetChat. The title of this chat is - Engage, Enhance, Extend: Creating Authentic Lessons. Through this chat, participants will: 1. Explore the main components of the Triple E Framework, 2. Discuss ways to successfully integrate technology into lessons, and 3. Share resources to leverage authentic engagement in the classroom. Find great tools and resources to integrate technology into your lessons while keeping the focus on learning goals through the understanding of the Triple E Framework.

In the Classroom

Find tools and resources to create authentic lessons that focus on the learning goal and integration of appropriate technology. Share this chat with your colleagues looking for sites and information related to the Triple E Framework and technology integration. Explore the various tools that are shared.

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session from October 2018, opens in Adobe Connect. Good readers take breaks to process what they are reading. Learn to use Microsoft Sway to guide comprehension through the use of research-based strategies. Helping students become aware of reading comprehension strategies allows them to manage their learning and empowers them to read strategically. While teaching students to think about how they read isn't an end to itself, it is a great instructional strategy. This is specifically helpful in a flipped or blended learning model. Join us and learn how to put this into action in your classroom. Participants will: 1. Learn three active reading comprehension strategies; 2. Understand where these strategies fit in the instructional cycle; and 3. Plan for the use of Sway during reading instruction. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

In the Classroom

The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.

Ruff Ruffman is a comical canine who sets out to teach kids (ages 6-11) about being a responsible digital citizen. Short animated video clips answer questions about posting photos, texting, and searching, reminding kids to ask an adult for help with the more difficult undertakings like finding a kid-friendly search engine. This program also has discussion questions for parents and teachers and interactive quizzes. Creating an account isn't required to use any material on the site. To create an account, you will need a username and a random password will be assigned, which can you can change later.

In the Classroom

Introduce Ruff Ruffman with a projector or interactive whiteboard, showing students all of the different questions Ruff will answer. Then either view the video shorts and quizzes as a class, or allow students to view the video shorts and take the interactive quizzes at a computer center. As a substitute for paper and pencil, have students use a video response tool like FlipGrid, reviewed here, to reflect on their learning and share tips for their peers. To extend student learning, require students to view their peer's reflections and make thoughtful comments.

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session from September 2018, opens in Adobe Connect. Develop social media savvy in your students using practice spaces focused on digital citizenship, critical thinking, persuasion and communication skills. Explore online and offline strategies and tools to create safe, authentic learning experiences for students in grades 2-12. These strategies can be applied to any content area. As educators, we can prepare every child to be influential by helping them understand how to leverage the power of social media. While students intuitively understand the mechanics of social media platforms, using them in a responsibly purposeful way to build influence is not instinctual and must be taught and practiced. Participants will recognize the cycle of information gathering, processing, and posting; followed by vetting ideas and voice amplification as both a professional use of social media and an experience that learners should have. Participants will: 1. Learn the importance of responsible social media use by students; 2. Understand the purpose of using social media practice spaces as part of regular instruction; and 3. Explore both paper-based and digital practice spaces that can be used with students. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

In the Classroom

The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session from October 2018, opens in Adobe Connect. Transform your classroom activities with interactive images created using Google Draw. Engage students and deepen content area knowledge by adding text, audio, and video to images which bring additional context to your instruction. This strategy can be used across content areas and grade levels. Participants will: 1. Learn how to create an interactive drawing; 2. Identify ways in which interactive drawings can be used to support instruction; and 3. Create an interactive drawing that can be used in class. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

In the Classroom

The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session from October 2018, opens in Adobe Connect. Get inspired by digital writing tools that facilitate the planning and implementation of powerful, engaging lessons in support of literacy standards! Through the exploration of three digital writing tools, understand how these tools can scaffold instruction for each component of the writing process -- prewrite, draft, revise, edit, and publish. Engaged students who understand the writing process produce more successful work. Join us to see how you can improve student organization, collaboration, storytelling, and decision-making within the writing process by using these digital tools. Participants will: 1. Understand ways different digital writing tools can scaffold instruction; 2. Identify ways digital writing can increase student engagement; and 3. Plan for the use of digital writing tools in their classroom to support the different parts of the writing process. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

In the Classroom

The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.

This archived Twitter chat is from October 2018 and will open in TweetChat. The title of this chat is - Make That MakerSpace! Through this chat, participants will: 1. Define and discuss the basic components of a makerspace 2. Discuss technology integration into makerspaces and 3. Explore digital options to use in your makerspace area. Find great tools and resources to create or expand a makerspace in your classroom or school.

Online Video Converter changes YouTube videos to several different audio and video formats. Paste the URL of the video and choose the format. Audio options include mp3, m4a, wav, and others. Video choices include mp4, mov, wmv, and more. Additional settings include choosing the start and stop times of audio conversions and audio quality options. When ready, click the start button to create your new file. When complete, download to your computer or use the QR code to download directly to a smartphone or tablet.This site includes advertising.

In the Classroom

Use this service to back up your videos from YouTube and other sites. Use to download and save videos at home that you wish to show to students, especially if the school or district blocks them. Users must be able to find, copy, and paste the URL of the video to be downloaded. Once the program starts, you will be prompted to save it. If you want to use the video at school, you will need to save it to a USB stick. No registration or login is required. Online Video Convert is primarily a teacher resource. If using with students, discuss appropriate and inappropriate uses of the technology as well as choosing necessary videos.

Nimbus Screenshot Capture is a download for most major browsers for PCs and Macs. Download the add-on to your browser then use to quickly capture screenshots of your entire workspace or a portion you choose. Also, use the additional tools to edit your screenshot by adding text, arrows, blur portions of your screen, and more. Nimbus Screenshot Capture also includes the options for video recording your screen share. When finished, save work to your computer or send directly to Google Drive.

In the Classroom

Check with your school's tech department for the appropriate procedure for adding this tool to classroom computers. This very handy tool serves many purposes. As a substitute for handwritten notes, have students take a screenshot and add information to document research findings. If students are stuck at a specific point on a web page or when working with a web tool, ask them to take a screenshot and add their question then share it with you. Augment learning by having students take screen shots to upload into a video presentation. Use a tool similar to Rawshorts, reviewed here, that can be used to create short, animated video explanations. Take screenshots of new websites you share with students and add notes on how to use the tool or create a video recording by screen sharing how to use any site. Share your images on your class website for students to access at any time or use your images to create a simple explainer video using Biteable, reviewed here.

The ESCEI is part of the Air Force Associations CyberPatriot program. On this page find and download a kit with everything you need for teaching your K-6 students about digital safety! Fill out the registration form and submit. You will quickly receive a link for downloading the kit which needs to be un-zipped and takes about five minutes. You'll find cover letters to parents, guardians, and educators, three interactive learning modules about online safety and cybersecurity principles, slides for classroom instruction, and a complete instructors guide (with descriptions for each module, vocabulary, games to print, and more). Students will learn basic computing skills to how to deal with complex issues like phishing and malware. Be sure to see the supplemental activities and videos. Though the lessons are labeled up to sixth grade, they are adaptable for eighth grade and ninth grade.

From this landing page also find the home page with all the information about CyberPatriot and check out the competitions that are for middle school, high school, and beyond. CyberPatriot brings you these real-world competitions in conjunction with the Cisco Networking Challenge. There is online training for competitors. Videos on this site reside on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.

In the Classroom

Include materials from this site with any lessons or units for on online safety. For basic technology integration have younger students use a video response tool like FlipGrid, reviewed here, to reflect on their learning and share tips for their peers. Older students could use Flipgrid, too, or to take technology integration to the next level have students take notes about what they are learning about cyber safety using a tool like SuperNotecard, reviewed here. Next, have small groups of students share and compare their notes. Students can then use their notes as a storyboard to organize a presentation for their peers sharing safety tips. With their storyboards students or student groups can create online books sharing cybersafety tips using Book Creator, reviewed here. Book Creator includes tools for making digital books that include images, text, and audio recordings. As a modification to the above, instead of using Book Creator, challenge students to create a multimedia presentation with a tool like Genial.ly, reviewed here, or Powtoon, reviewed here. Include links to learning modules on a bookmarking tool like Symbaloo, reviewed here, on classroom computers for students to easily access materials.

High school students and your tech-savvy middle school students may be interested in the competitions where they will focus on network security. The competition would be very good for the student who thinks they would like a career in IT or computer science.

This archived Twitter chat is from September 2018 and will open in TweetChat. The title of this chat is - Tech Tools for Collaboration. Through this chat, participants will: 1. Discuss the importance of building collaboration skills in the classroom, 2. Discuss ways to integrate tech tools to foster student collaboration, and 3. Share tech tools that engage students in collaborative learning experiences. Find great tools and resources to foster student collaboration using technology.

This recording of an OK2Ask online professional learning session from September 2018, opens in Adobe Connect. Technology in the classroom can foster engagement and higher order thinking. When strategically infused into lesson plans designed with sound instructional practices, technology can provide challenging, collaborative, and creative experiences. Learn how to transform your lesson plans by applying the SAMR Model in conjunction with resources available on the TeachersFirst website. Participants will: 1. Understand the SAMR Model and its importance to the lesson planning process; 2. Locate resources within TeachersFirst that support lesson planning in your content area; and 3. Plan to use TeachersFirst's resources and the SAMR Model in combination to plan effective technology-infused lessons. This session is appropriate for teachers at all technology levels.

In the Classroom

The archive of this teacher-friendly, hands-on webinar will empower and inspire you to use learning technology in the classroom and for professional productivity. As appropriate, specific classroom examples and ideas have been shared. View the session with a few of your teaching colleagues to find and share new ideas. Find additional information and links to tools at the session resource page. Learn more about OK2Ask and upcoming sessions here.

This archived Twitter chat is from September 2018 and will open in TweetChat. The title of this chat is - Tech Tools for Parent Communication. Through this chat participants will: 1. Define and explore basic principles of effective communication, 2. Share ways to share classroom experiences with parents, and 3. Share tech tools to facilitate school/home communication. Find great tools and resources to improve parent/teacher communication.

In the Classroom

Improve your parent/teacher communication! Share this chat with your colleagues looking for sites and information related to digital communication with parents. Explore the various tools that are shared.

Create learning games for use on any device using oodlu. Create an account to begin creating question sets. Take advantage of many different question formats including sequencing, multiple choice, and fill in the blank. Optional features provide the ability to add different forms of feedback to guide students when making incorrect choices. When finished, share the code with students to access the learning games. Students sign in using their username, password, and the code provided. As students complete activities, they earn award badges. Use the teacher dashboard to review and monitor student achievements. Free accounts an include an unlimited number of students and questions.

In the Classroom

Use oodlu to differentiate learning in your classroom. Assign questions sets to different groups of learners according to their specific needs. Be sure to show students how to log in and access questions, then include a link to the site on your class webpage for students to play at home. At the end of your learning unit, augment the lessons by asking students to plan a multimedia presentation using a tool like SuperNotecard, reviewed here, where you can turn your notes into a storyboard! Include modification by using the Storyboard to create a multimedia presentation tool like Sway, reviewed here, to share their learning using. Have students include text, images, videos, and a link to oodlu learning games in the Sway.

Ryeboard is a virtual whiteboard for desktop computers. This tool currently includes options for adding images, text, and drawings using the widgets on the menu. Choose any option and drag it onto the whiteboard surface. Follow the prompts to add information. Grab the corner on your entries to resize or move around to a different spot on the whiteboard space. Ryeboard also includes a basic photo editor to rotate and crop images. Whiteboards automatically save to your account, turn on the sharing option to copy the URL and share with others.

In the Classroom

Ryeboard is perfect for those times that you need to organize information and ideas in one place, but you don't need a lot of fancy options. Use this tool to save and organize images for use with class digital projects. Create a whiteboard with an image of each student in your class, add a text box with notes then share with a substitute to have a quick overview of the class. Ryboard is easy enough to use with younger students and ESL/ELL students. For technology integration at the substitution level, create a board with images and have students use the text box to label the images and add additional information. For example, when studying animals upload several images of animals and have students add a text box naming the animal and sharing information about their habitat or adding a label to classify as birds, mammals, reptiles, etc. Augment the this by having older students create a whiteboard for a group project, and share the URL with their partner or group members. Those students can then take a screenshot of the whiteboard using Screencast-o-matic, to insert their comments and ideas, and post the screenshot on their own Ryeboard.

Deck.Toys is an interactive lesson creation site that works with your existing content. Use the site's drag and drop features to build lessons using your PPT and Google Slides. Add differentiation features within self-exploration paths. Other options include teacher-sync, turn this feature on, and all students are synced to your current slide. Deck.Toys also includes student progress reporting in real-time and a comprehensive lesson report. Included with the free option are two classrooms, up to three private decks, unlimited public decks, and the ability to assign up to two classroom decks at a time. Be sure to watch the tutorials and take advantage of the site's FAQ section to get started.

In the Classroom

Use Deck.Toys to create gamified learning activities for all students. Deck.Toys is perfect for creating mini-lessons for students to explore during center time or as a flipped classroom activity. Use to remediate and enrich lessons for struggling learners or as an enrichment activity for gifted learners.

Notejoy is a collaborative note-taking and sharing resource for teams. Create a note for a group and receive real-time updates. Features include checklists, upload of images and documents, and discussions. Quickly see who's viewed your notes and use emojis to respond or participate in threaded chats. Notejoy integrates with several major platforms including Google Drive and Microsoft Office. After signing up for Notejoy, follow the prompts to add your team name and emails of team members. Use your dashboard to create, share, and view notes. Free plans offer up to 10 users per library, up to 3 team libraries, and individual uploads up to 10 MB with a total storage of up to 100 MB.

In the Classroom

Use Notejoy to work collaboratively with your peers. Share discussions on lesson planning, field trip preparation, and professional development sessions. Take advantage of the checklists to assign and track completion of projects. Share Notejoy with older students to use when working on group projects to help plan and complete tasks on time. ESL/ELL and resources teachers can use this with teachers of students who are mainstreamed.

Can you type for three minutes without stopping for more than five seconds? How about five minutes or longer - up to an hour? This website tests your writing persistence. Choose how long you want to write or how many words then start writing. If you hesitate for five seconds, all of your work disappears. However, if you make it to the set amount of time, you can download what you typed.

In the Classroom

The creator of this app states that it "is designed to shut down your inner editor and get you into a state of flow." Share the app with students to use as a non-threatening way to practice putting their thoughts down without worrying about grammar, spelling, or being graded. Use the app as part of brainstorming sessions before beginning writing projects. Instead of using paper and pencil for journal writing, use this site as students become more comfortable with non-stop typing for a set amount of time (or number of words).